Chapter 53 (2/2)
“Dividing provisions, transporting supplies, having the military logistics division provide support, watching the surroundings of the Ministry of Revenue – our Great Tang’s most lucrative black trades, these years everything has been dominated by you Fish Dragon gangsters, without even splitting out a share of thin soup for the ma.s.ses of brothers. With the Holy Emperor on the throne, does this world really have these kinds of principles?”
Lord Meng of South City coldly looked at Chao XiaoShu as he said, “You should be very clear about what is called angering the ma.s.ses. In the past, the ma.s.ses of brothers saw you Spring Wind Pavilion Old Chao after years of rising reputation, and gave you three shares of respect. But now since the Imperial Court wants to be clean of you, but you’re still stubborn, then don’t blame us for being discourteous.”
“People a.s.sociated with the JiangHu aren’t always too educated, so again and again they will only say these kinds of words. Years ago I had to personally appear and negotiate with people. These kinds of words I have simply heard enough that I’m about to have calluses.”
Chao XiaoShu stood beneath the umbrella, watching South City’s Lord Meng speaking directly and calmly, with a slight smile and a light tone. These words were naturally not said for the opposing side to hear, but to Ning Que behind him to hear.
South City’s Lord Meng saw that he was so contemptible to him, and his expression became exceedingly unsightly. Heavily stamping the cane in his hand, he shouted, “The Fish Dragon Gang is known to have three thousand blue s.h.i.+rts, but you and I are both clear, those that dare to make you fight desperately are no more than two hundred. Now currently your brothers who can fight the best, have all been suppressed by n.o.bles into the Yu Lin Army’s Brave Riders Army. Tonight I’d like to see how you can get out!”
Chao XiaoShu watched his slightly twitching fat face, and suddenly spread out a smile and replied, “First I’ll return you a problem. Whether it’s dividing provisions, transporting goods, or even transporting by water, that I could dominate these businesses like this for so many years is naturally because I have the qualifications to dominate it. No matter if it’s you or Jun Jie or Uncle Cat, not one among you have the ability to dominate these businesses. Even if these businesses were placed right before you, none of you would dare to bite.”
“You also don’t need to probe to see if I have a means of escape or not. I can tell you, not a single one of the brothers of Spring Wind Pavilion will come into the vicinity of Spring Wind Pavilion. Qi the Fourth is not here, don’t you think that’s strange? But it’s not strange. He and the brothers already went to your homes. I believe by this time, South City and East City and Uncle Cat, your other residences beyond there have already begun to not be peaceful.”
In the wake of these words echoing into the dilapidated little pavilion’s surroundings, the crowd in the rain instantly became even more agitated. They were here for Chao XiaoShu, always sending people following Chao XiaoShu’s whereabouts. How would they think Chao XiaoShu used himself as bait and lured them to this place? And then sent all of the Fish Dragon Gang’s forces to their lairs!
“Too late for disaster, the wife and children are at home!” The retirees from the City Gate Army harshly berated, “Chao XiaoShu, you go too far in your aggression!”
Chao XiaoShu’s facial expression became slightly cold, soon after slightly shaking his head he said, “You people surrounded my house door to kill me. If I didn’t get my family to scatter leaving ahead of schedule, would this be regarded as a family calamity? But you people rest a.s.sured, I Spring Wind Pavilion’s Old Chao always do things with rules, with principles. I don’t intend to you kill people on my own house door, and make your parents, wives, and children grieve heart-broken.”
Slightly pausing, he looked at everyone and calmly said, “However after tonight, don’t think you will still have family within ChangAn’s city walls.”
Don’t think you will still have family within ChangAn’s city walls.
A brief simple sentence and it immediately made very many scenes emerge in the minds of everyone in the area —— Spring Wind Pavilion’s Old Chao’s five words faithfully pledged; he said he wouldn’t move on everyone but their relatives certainly wouldn’t move —— However, in the slightly cold spring rain night, one’s family’s old elders, ill mothers, wives, and children being roughly driven away from their homes, and immediately their own homes and shops that they had operated for many years turning into destroyed gravel by that Fish Dragon Gang’s blue s.h.i.+rt men, who could accept this kind of thing taking place on them?
South City Lord Meng’s fat face twitched again, his hand supporting the umbrella didn’t cover all of the rain. This one twitch unexpectedly ejected several rain beads from his flesh, and he said in a cold voice, “Without a house you can rise again, but if people die there is no way to live again. As long as we kill you Old Chao of Spring Wind Pavilion, the JiangHu will be different from now on. ChangAn City is ours!”
“ChangAn City is forever His Majesty the Emperor’s.” Chao XiaoShu slightly smiled with ridicule. Bowing his head to look at the sword he was wearing at his waist, he raised his head to reveal his face with a convincing smile, saying, “You said that you want to kill me. Have you see me in action?”
The Ning Que behind his back collapsed the oil paper umbrella, randomly tossing it aside underfoot. His right hand lifted to stretch backwards towards the slanted handle of the Rain Cloud Blade on his back.
Chao XiaoShu slowly stretched his hand to grasp the sword handle on the side of his waist. Just at the instant his slender fingers were about to grasp the hilt moistened from rainwater, only the blue s.h.i.+rt on his body slightly flapping could be seen and countless raindrops shot out creating a tiny watercolor, as bewildering as a fog.
The gently smiling middle-aged man became stern with the intent to kill, as if he changed into a different person. All around him was the cold and desolate rain.
It seemed that he felt a little something at last – silently he swayed leaning to evade, and there wasn’t another drop that dared to fall on that blue s.h.i.+rt body. …… ……
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